We posted recently about the DEP’s go-through-the-motions-meeting in Gainesville, where they allowed the public to give their opinion on the DEP’s inaction and refusal to follow the law to protect our outstanding springs.
We have until September 11 to send in our comments.
The following was sent out by the Florida Springs Council, which has done the work for the DEP by writing a draft proposal to protect the springs. The DEP has only to adopt it and put in into action.
Here is the quick link to click on for an easy, easy fast way to tell this incompetent, non-feasing taxpayer-funded agency to quit protecting water abusers and start to do their job.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
Tap the link below!—————-
Good Morning, my name is Jim Tatum and I am a member of Our Santa Fe River of Fort White.
For the past 60 years I have had the pleasure of enjoying the rivers and springs of Florida. The flow today is about 30 percent less in many of those rivers and the clarity of the water has been compromised with nitrates and we see green algae where there was none in l963.
Our aquifers continue on a constant drop. Our waters in Florida have not been protected these past decades.
Occasionally your offices or a water management district will publish a press release extolling our springs and rivers, saying that the task is difficult but they are working hard and progressing in saving out waters.
This is pure greenwash as both the DEP and the water management districts have failed in their jobs. Pumping permits are easily obtained, fertilizer quantities are unlimited, gyptstack toxic water is allowed to be dumped into the Gulf, your BMAPs are designed to fail and our manatees swim in water so dirty their food can’t grow. The State of Florida wastes billions of taxpayer dollars on makework that does not even begin to restore our springs.
We need protection for our waters now, and here you have the opportunity to begin. Our springs and rivers are dying because of your inaction.
The Florida Springs Council has pointed out to you how, after seven years of inaction, you have been unable to come up with a plan to comply with the Florida Statute signed into law in 2016 to protect Outstanding Florida Springs. On March 21, 2022 the Council sent you a letter with an appendix consisting of a proposed draft rule which would go far in protecting further harm to our springs.
Please adopt this plan for the sake of Florida’s declining springs.
Thank you.
